Barcelona metro and tickets
Barcelona's metro is clean, frequent and easy, and the ticket choice is simpler than it looks. For almost every visitor the answer is a T-casual: a 10-journey ticket that works out far cheaper than singles. Here is what to buy, how it works, and when something else fits better.
Which ticket to buy
Buy a T-casual (10 journeys, one person at a time) and tap it as you go; two people can share one by passing it back. Only consider the Hola Barcelona travel card if you will ride many times every single day, and a single ticket only for a one-off hop. The airport metro (L9 Sud) needs its own fare, not a normal single.
The tickets that matter
Barcelona transit tickets
- T-casual
- 10 journeys within Zone 1, used by one person per journey (shareable on separate trips). The default buy.
- Single ticket
- About EUR 2.65 per ride; only worth it for a single isolated journey.
- Hola Barcelona
- Unlimited travel for 48 to 120 hours, including the airport metro; worth it only for heavy daily riders.
- T-familiar
- A multi-person multi-journey ticket if a group travels together a lot.
- Contactless
- Tap-to-pay is rolling out on the network; cards and phones work at many gates.
One ride covers the metro plus connections (bus, tram, FGC, Rodalies within the zone) for over an hour, so a single tap often gets you door to door. The airport metro line is the exception and is charged separately.
Using the metro
Lines are numbered and colour-coded (L1 to L5 cover most of what visitors need). Tap your ticket at the gate, follow the line number and the end-of-line station name for your direction, and tap again only when the system asks. Trains run roughly 05:00 to midnight, later on Fridays, and all night on Saturdays. It is one of the easier metros in Europe, but it is also a pickpocket hotspot, so keep your phone and bag secure at the doors.
How we checked this
Ticket types and metro operation reflect current TMB fares and running. Exact prices and the contactless rollout change, so confirm at the machine; we re-check each season.
Verified 24 May 2026 · the barcelonageek editorial team
Common questions
What ticket should I buy for the Barcelona metro?
A T-casual: 10 journeys at a much lower per-ride cost than singles. Two people can share one by passing it back between separate journeys.
Can two people share a T-casual?
Yes, on separate journeys. Tap once per person per journey; you cannot both use it to pass the same gate at once.
Does the metro go to the airport?
Yes, line L9 Sud serves both terminals, but it needs its own fare (not a standard single) and a line change to reach the centre. See our airport guide.
How late does the Barcelona metro run?
Roughly 05:00 to midnight on weekdays, until 02:00 on Fridays, and all night on Saturdays. Night buses cover the gaps.
Keep planning
Is a city pass worth it?
Whether a travel or attraction pass beats this.
ArrivalAirport to city centre
Getting in from El Prat.
PracticalPickpockets & scams
Staying sharp on the metro.
Researched by the barcelonageek editorial team. Last updated 24 May 2026. How we research · Aviso legal